An English surname of Palmer originally came from Old French words of ‘palmifer’ or ‘palmer’ or ‘paumer; which all meant palm bearer. This was a person who carried palm branches from the Holy Lands. A palmer was later referred to as a missionary.

Spelling forms for Palmer include Parmer and Pallmer.

In Yorkshire county and down along the southwestern region of England are most with the Palmer families. Larger numbers are also in London.

Scotland has most with the Palmer surname in the central and eastern region, mainly in Lanarkshire county. Many Palmer families resettled in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In the United States Palmer families are concentrated in the Midwest and part of the northeast regions. The states with the higher percentages of Palmer families are Pennsylvania and New York.

Famous: Robert Allen Palmer (singer), Arnold Palmer (professional champion golfer), Carl Palmer (singer), John McAuley Palmer (Civil War Union general), Amanda Palmer (singer), Betsy Palmer (actress), Carson Palmer (professional football player), Joseph B. Palmer (Civil War Confederate general), Lowell Palmer (professional baseball player) and Nathaniel Palmer (19th century explorer, first American who spotted Antarctica).